Method and device for the steam treatment of scalp hair

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for the steam treatment of scalp hair, which hair was treated previously with an agent that contains ammonia. The treatment is carried out with a device with a steam hood such that at the start of the steam treatment ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person is extracted automatically by a controllable extraction unit. This extraction unit is deactivated automatically after a preset time. In a more refined embodiment the ammonia emission within the steam hood is recorded continuously and measured as ammonia emission values and compared with a preset ammonia emission value, such that the extraction unit is deactivated automatically on reaching the preset ammonia emission value.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a method for the steam treatment of scalp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Owing to the positive results obtained, steam treatment of scalp hair is usually carried out with the aid of a device (steam apparatus) during hair color applications in hair dressing salons. Suchlike devices are known in different embodiments from, for example, WO2005/001337A1 (FIG. 7). In such a device steam is blown through a spray into a steam hood in which is positioned the head of a person (hairdresser's client) to whose scalp hair a hair color has been applied. Ammonia is released through the chemical process and the heat action of the steam. Since new steam is constantly generated, the ammonia is carried out of the steam hood with the steam and right up to the eyes and nose of the person and can cause irritation there. In addition an odor nuisance can occur as a result.

The task of the invention is to prevent by simple means this irritation and/or odor nuisance during a corresponding steam treatment of scalp hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for the steam treatment of scalp hair, which was treated previously with an agent that contains ammonia. The treatment is carried out with a device with a steam hood such that at the start of the steam treatment ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person is extracted automatically by a controllable extraction unit. This extraction unit is deactivated automatically after a preset time. In a more refined embodiment the ammonia emission within the steam hood is recorded continuously and measured as ammonia emission values and compared with a preset ammonia emission value, such that the extraction unit is deactivated automatically on reaching the preset ammonia emission value.

A device for carrying out the above methods comprising a steam hood for the treatment of scalp hair of a person, the device comprising a controllable extraction unit, which extracts ambient air in the neighborhood of the forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person, and a control unit to activate the steam treatment with the extraction unit and deactivate the steam treatment at the end of a preset time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is more closely illustrated by means of several embodiment examples.

Shown are:

FIG. 1 a first method as a flow diagram;

FIG. 2 a second method as a flow diagram;

FIG. 3 a side view of a device of the prior art;

FIG. 4 a side view of a first device with a time switch;

FIG. 5 a side view of a second device with automatic switch-off mechanism;

FIG. 6 a sectional view of a detailed aspect of the second device according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 a block diagram of the device according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 a plan view of the device according to FIG. 5, and

FIG. 9 a perspective view of the device according to, respectively, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 with steam hood removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The principle solution of the set task is to extract the steam 11 enriched with ammonia C at the front region 12 of the steam hood 4. This is preferably carried out by means of an electrically driven fan 10. This fan 10 is preferably attached directly at the front region 12 of the steam hood 4. A suction port 13 of the fan 10 is so designed in such a way that the extraction of the steam 11 takes place mainly in the region above the eyes 14. Since ammonia emission C is reduced to such an extent during the course of the steam treatment that no irritation or odor nuisance can occur, from this time point on the fan 10 is either switched off at a preset time t_(a) or is deactivated at a preset ammonia emission value V₁.

The fan 10 can also be seated within the device 3.2 in order, for example, to support the output of the steam 11. In this case the suction port 13 is passed through the steam hood 4 into the neighborhood of the eyes 14.

The amount of air D that is to be extracted is controlled by the use of the electric fan 10. This control can take place during a (preset) time t_(a), or through an ammonia sensor 7 located in the extracted air 16 with which the concentration of the ammonia emission C is measured and the fan 10 correspondingly regulated.

Since the concentration of the ammonia emission C in the air changes during the treatment the correct amount of air 16 can always be extracted with a controlled fan 10 in order to avoid irritation of the eyes 14. On the other hand, only the amount of air 16 that is absolutely necessary is extracted. In this way a uniform dampness of the scalp hair 1 is attained and a very consistent color reaction on the scalp hair 1 is achieved.

FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a first method for the steam treatment of scalp hair 1 of a person 2 with a device 3.1 with a steam hood 4, wherein the scalp hair 1 was previously treated with a (hair coloring) agent that contains ammonia C. At the start t_(o) of steam treatment a controllable extraction unit 5 on the steam hood 4 is activated by a control unit 6, by which means highly odorous ammonia gasses (ammonia emission C) from the steam hood 4 cannot spread into a face region F (especially in the region of the eyes and nose B) of a person 2. After a preset time t₁ has elapsed the extraction unit 5 is deactivated. At the end of the steam treatment t_(b) the device 3.1 (FIG. 4) is switched off automatically.

FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of a second method for the steam treatment of scalp hair 1 of a person 2 with a device 3.2 with a steam hood 4, wherein the scalp hair 1 is first treated with an agent that contains ammonia. At the start t_(o) of a steam treatment a controllable extraction unit 5 on the steam hood 4 is activated by a control unit 6, wherein during the further course of the steam treatment ammonia emissions C are recorded by a sensor 7 that is attached inside the steam hood 4 and measured by a measurement unit 8 (V_(x1) . . . V_(x5)). The measurement unit 8 is connected with the control unit 6, wherein on attainment or undershooting of a preset ammonia emission value V_(x5)=V₁ the extraction unit 5 is deactivated automatically by the control unit 6. At the end of the steam treatment t_(b) the device 3.2 (FIG. 5) is switched off automatically.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a device 3 of the prior art. It is clear from this that the ammonia emissions C from the treated scalp hair 1 reach the eye/nose region B of the person 2 and can lead to irritation and an odor nuisance.

FIG. 4 shows schematically a side view of a first device 3.1 with a steam hood 4 for the steam treatment of scalp hair 1 of a person 2, wherein the scalp hair 1 was previously treated with an agent that contains ammonia. The device 3.1 has a controllable extraction unit 5 with a suction port 13 that extracts the ambient air in the neighborhood of an (upper) forehead region A or an eye/nose region B of the person 2. At the start t_(o) of the steam treatment the extraction unit 5 is activated by a control unit 6 and is deactivated after a prescribed time t_(a) has elapsed. A time switch 9 is attached as control unit 6. The extraction unit 5 is preferably an electric fan 10, which is preferably attached in the front region 12 of the steam hood 4. In this way the flow of ammonia gasses into the eye/nose region B (eyes 14, nose 15) is practically prevented. It is possible to plan to control an amount of air D of the extracted air 16 through the fan 10.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a second device 3.2 with an automatic switch-off mechanism and a steam hood 4 for the steam treatment of scalp hair 1 of a person 2. A sensor 7 to record the ammonia emission values V_(x1) . . . V_(xn) is arranged inside the steam hood 4. The ammonia sensor 7 is connected with a measurement unit 8 for measurement of the ammonia emission values V_(x1) . . . V_(xn), wherein the measurement unit 8 is connected with a control unit 6. The device 3.2 or, respectively, the steam hood 4 has an extraction unit 5 that is controllable by the control unit 6 and extracts the ambient air in the neighborhood of an (upper) forehead region A or an eye/nose region B of the person 2. At the start t_(o) of the steam treatment the extraction unit 5 is activated automatically by the control unit 6. By convergence with or undershooting of a preset ammonia emission value V₁ the extraction unit 5 is deactivated automatically. Preferably an electric fan 10 that can be arranged neatly in or on the steam hood 4, is simple to operate (in on/off function and fan performance), and is very cost-effective is used as extraction unit 5.

The extraction unit 5 is arranged inside or outside the steam hood 4 in such a way that extraction of the ambient air in the neighborhood of the forehead region A or the eye/nose region B of the person 2 takes place, wherein the electric fan 10 is arranged in the extraction unit 5.

An optoelectronic ammonia sensor in chip form, for example, can be used as sensor 7.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed aspect of the second device 3.2 according to FIG. 5 as a sectional view.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the device 3.2. in accordance with, respectively, FIG. 5 or FIG. 2. At the start t_(o) of a steam treatment a controllable extraction unit 5 on the steam hood 4 is activated by a control unit 6, wherein during the further course of the steam treatment ammonia emissions C are recorded by a sensor 7 arranged inside the steam hood 4 and measured by a measurement unit 8 (V_(x1) . . . V_(x5)). The measurement unit 8 is connected with the control unit 6, wherein on attainment or undershooting of a preset ammonia emission value V_(x5)=V₁ the extraction unit 5 is deactivated automatically by the control unit 6. At the end of the steam treatment t_(b) the device 3.2 (FIG. 5) is switched off automatically.

FIG. 8 shows a plan view of the device 3.2 according to FIG. 5. In particular, it is evident here that the suction port 13 has approximately the width of the face of the person 2.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the device 3.1, 3.2 according to, respectively, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 with the steam hood 4 removed. The steam sprays 18 are particularly evident here.

The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”.

All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention. 

1. A method for the steam treatment of scalp hair of a person with a device with a steam hood, wherein the scalp hair was treated previously with an agent that contains ammonia, wherein at the start of the steam treatment ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person is extracted automatically by a controllable extraction unit, wherein the extraction unit is deactivated automatically after a preset time has elapsed.
 2. A method for the steam treatment of scalp hair of a person with a device with a steam hood, wherein the scalp hair was treated previously with an agent that contains ammonia, wherein the start of the steam treatment ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person is extracted automatically by a controllable extraction unit and the ammonia emission within the steam hood is recorded continuously and measured as ammonia emission values and compared with a preset ammonia emission value, wherein on reaching the preset ammonia emission value the extraction unit is deactivated automatically.
 3. A device with a steam hood for the treatment of scalp hair of a person, wherein the scalp hair was treated previously with an agent that contains ammonia, wherein the device has a controllable extraction unit that extracts the ambient air in the neighborhood of forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person, wherein at the start of the steam treatment the extraction unit is activated by a control unit and deactivated after end of a preset time.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is a time switch.
 5. A device with a steam hood for the steam treatment of the scalp hair of a person, wherein the scalp hair was treated previously with an agent that contains ammonia, wherein a sensor for the recording of ammonia emission values is arranged within the steam hood, wherein the sensor is connected with a measurement unit for the measurement of the ammonium emission values, wherein the measurement unit is connected with a control unit, wherein the device has an extraction unit which extracts ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person, wherein the extraction unit is controllable by the control unit, wherein at the start of the steam treatment the extraction unit is activated automatically by the control unit, and wherein the extraction unit is deactivated automatically on convergence of a preset ammonia emission value with a recorded ammonia emission value.
 6. A device according to claim 3 wherein the extraction unit is arranged to the inside or outside of the steam hood in such a way that an extraction of the ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person takes place.
 7. A device according to claim 5 wherein the extraction unit is arranged to the inside or outside of the steam hood in such a way that an extraction of the ambient air in the neighborhood of a forehead region or an eye/nose region of the person takes place.
 8. A device according to claim 3, wherein an electric fan is arranged in the extraction unit.
 9. A device according to claim 5, wherein an electric fan is arranged in the extraction unit. 